Kamukunji MP loses seat in poll petition

FILE | NATION> Kamukunji Member of Parliament Simon Mbugua has lost his seat after a Nairobi court annulled his election on Thursday.

Kamukunji Member of Parliament Simon Mbugua has lost his seat after a Nairobi court annulled his election on Thursday.

Lady Justice Mary Ang 'awa said the election was compromised and the Returning Officer presiding over the election made an error in announcing incomplete results.

In making the ruling, the judge said the results lacked integrity and the MP was therefore not validly elected.

The election petition was filed by Ibrahim Ahmed who contested the seat on an Orange Democratic Party (ODM) in the 2007 General Elections.

The case has been presided over by three judges since it was filed in 2008, with two, Lady Justice Kalpana Rawal and Justice Fred Ochieng disqualifying themselves.

Lady Justice Rawal disqualified herself from the case in June last year after receiving threatening messages from unknown people while Justice Ochieng, did the same in October after remarks were made against him that he had been influenced.

The PNU MP becomes the ninth legislator to lose in seat in election petitions in the life of the Tenth Parliament.

Other who lost their seats include: Joel Onyancha (Bomachoge), Omingo Magara (South Mugirango), Chirau Ali Mwakwere (Matuga), Bishop Margaret Wanjiru (Starehe), Dick Wathika (Makadara), George Thuo (Juja) and Abdirahman Hassan (Wajir South).

Of these, only Cabinet minister Chirau Mwakere and Bishop Wanjiru retained their seats.